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Ty Sawyer's fight death ruled 'accidental'

The death of a 20-year-old Middletown man who died after an April 26 fight at a party near Odessa has been ruled accidental, according to the state's Division of Forensic Science.

What caused Ty Sawyer's death, however, was not disclosed Friday afternoon.

"No other details will be provided as this information is not public," said Kimberly Chandler, a spokeswoman for the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security which oversees the forensic science division.

Sawyer's autopsy result had been delayed because officials were waiting for the results of his toxicology tests. Sawyer's father, Terence Garnett, told The News Journal that detectives informed him his son took the street drug known as "ecstasy" and "molly," a stimulant and hallucinogen that can cause heart failure.

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Protesters walk along Broad Street in Middletown during a May rally that drew more than 300 people in support of prosecuting the man whose fight with Ty Sawyer resulted in his death.(Photo: WILLIAM BRETZGER/THE NEWS JOURNAL)

Sawyer died after getting into a fight with a man who had taunted him for months because of a dispute over stolen speakers. The fight ended with Ty being slammed on the ground and getting knocked out. He never regained consciousness. Party-goers called 911 and Sawyer was rushed to Christiana Hospital, only to be pronounced dead.

While New Castle County police have not identified Patrick Downey as the man who fought Sawyer at a party, law enforcement sources have told The News Journal they are investigating to determine whether criminal charges against him are warranted.

Sawyer's family and friends have called on police to charge Downey in connection with Sawyer's death, claiming a cover-up.

"Through this whole ordeal I have found that the only person you can trust is God," said Sawyer's mother, Lisa Sawyer. "Hopefully the justice system will do its job and proceed accordingly."

County police Chief Elmer Setting has said before that his officers were investigating the fight, but added Sawyer's cause of death was unknown, pending the results of an autopsy and toxicology testing. Five separate witnesses told detectives the two men were "mutual combatants" and police did not have evidence that a crime was committed that night.

Setting could not be reached Friday, but county police issued a statement saying they continue to investigate the death. They added that investigators, along with the state Attorney General's Office, will review the information released by the Division of Forensic Science.

On Friday, the Delaware Attorney General's Office said the new information puts them a step closer to making a decision on how to proceed.

"We have said throughout this case that our office would await the completion of the police and medical examiner investigations, and then make a decision regarding potential criminal charges based upon those investigations," said Nicole Byers, a spokeswoman for state Attorney General Matt Denn.

"Those investigations now appear to be complete, and our office will make a charging decision based upon them."

Earlier this week, Lisa Sawyer reiterated her plans to have her own independent autopsy conducted on her son's body if she was not satisfied with the state's findings. On Friday, she said she will move forward with that.

As Sunday marks the third month since her son's death, Lisa Sawyer said she is guilt-ridden because her son has not been buried. His body remains in a funeral home while the family awaited the autopsy results.

"A lot of people possibly have a tiny bit of peace when we can put your child to rest, but you know having to keep him above the ground that just makes everything that much harder," she said.